On Christmas day, we pulled A Christmas Story and went to Chinatown for dinner. Nothing is open on Christmas day, but that didn't stop me from wanting to try a new place. Dumpling Cafe, it was.

This tiny restaurant was bumpin' on Christmas. I'm not sure if it's always like that or if it's due to others being in a situation similar to mine, but we had to put our names on a list and stand in a small, cramped waiting area before we could be seating. Our wait was easily a half hour or so. But we were just happy to be able to squeeze inside the small waiting area, which was enclosed, rather than wait outside.

When we were finally called, we sat at our table, and they seated another couple at the end of our table. Be prepared to get to know your dining companions well. It was a little odd, but there was one empty chair between us, so it really wasn't bad.

The Taiwanese restaurant has noodle dishes, lamb, frog, duck tongus, bass, pork shoulder, pork intestines, chicken dishes, and just all kinds of stuff. But their specialty is their dumplings, of course. And from numerous rave reviews, it was clear their xiao long bao was THE thing to get. AKA "mini juicy buns with pork" on their menu ($6.50).

I also ordered their mango shrimp as a main course. Before we got either of these, we were brought tea, which was tasty. I also ordered a water at that point so I would have enough to drink throughout my meal. You'd be smart to do the same. They don't come and check on you - they bring your food and your bill. If you need something in the meantime, good luck.

Soup dumplings came out first in their little basket. I watched the couple at the end of our table (see, this has benefits!) eat their soup dumplings because I know these bad boys contain super hot broth, and I'm not trying to be in pain. So, take the soup dumpling with your chopsticks, place it in the soup spoon, nibble a little hole to suck some of the broth out, then do your best attempt to get a well-rounded bite of all the ingredients. I spent most of the time trying to suck just the right amount of broth out before shoving the whole thing in my mouth.

I haven't had anything like this, so it's easy for me to say they were the best I've ever had. It amazes me that this tender and thin skin - but strong - contains this scalding broth. And inside is this perfectly balanced rich, salty, sweet, hearty broth with pork and other delicious spices. Oh, and they give you some soy sauce and ginger, so try that, too.

Kaitylnn ordered a fried dumpling, which was also delish. More familiar, but still delish.

Okay mango shrimp. Holy god. Holy. God. So good. I know it's simple, but when it's done right - it's just the perfect combo. Love the sweet mango sauce. Love the crunchy pea pods and cool slices of mango, fresh shrimp, bamboo shoots. So good. I wish this was a dish I could find easily here. Get both of these. I'm sure there are more adventurous dishes that could pan out  well. But if you want a damn good meal, this.













Grade: A

A friend took me to Kawayan (which is a Filipino term for Bamboo), a nice Asian-American bar/restaurant that seems to be somewhat of a hidden gem. When we first walked in, my friend noticed a friend of hers working and asked if we could be sat in her section. The manager seemed put-off, but she obliged.

The restaurant was pretty empty, save for another couple or two. They have a sushi bar, which is pretty cool. The decor was nice - romantic, dim, lightly decorated. Our waitress was amazing - entirely accommodating, friendly and knowledgeable. They serve Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese and American food.

I tried their lumpias, which are veggie spring rolls filled with mixed vegetables and tofu. Served with a sweet chili sauce. It's like a lighter version of an eggroll, and it was pretty tasty. I stuck with a California crunch maki roll, which consisted of crab, avocado and crunchies. It was basic, but it was tasty. Just what I was in the mood for.

For dessert, I had a taste of bread pudd- ing, which was simply divine. In my top three favorite bread puddings ever. It was so warm, with a light caramel drizzle and whipped cream. It was just so homey, so comforting and so delicious.

The food here was really good, and the service was great. The management, though, kind of turned me off. From the way they treat the servers to how they accommodate guests, they just definitely give off the best impression.  

Grade: B

Lavender Cafe is one of the highest rated restaurants on Urbanspoon. I always assumed it was just another Chinese takeout place, but that assumption has turned out to bite me in the butt. I saw that it was rated so highly, so I wanted to check it out. Lavender Cafe is located right along Beechurst, near Papa Johns and WVU's Life Sciences Building. There is a gravel parking lot located behind the building, so some parking is available - always nice!

The sign features a drink - bubble tea, specifically. I actually tried bubble tea from here a long time ago and wasn't a fan. I knew I wouldn't be getting it this time either. We opened the door, and there was a small little entryway that listed their specials that day. We opened the next door to reveal the restaurant. For its location, the restaurant is quite large. I was very impressed. The room is long and slightly narrow, with a dozen tables. A second room is located to the left, where a sushi bar is located. We were seated in the the large room, near the back. The tables were also very roomy - something else that surprised me. If you go to Ogawa or Volcano, the seats are fairly close together. I felt more comfortable already.

The waitress took our drink orders and handed us menus. The menus were very impressive and extensive. I was surprised to see the typical American-Chinese fare, like General Tso's Chicken, but there was also a full sushi list, as well as Korean-style Kim Che, and Taiwanese style dishes. The restaurant has Chinese and Thai and Taiwanese! So many options - I was blown away. The variety isn't limited by just Chinese or just Japanese or just Thai. It really has an amazing variety, and there's something there for everyone. I could go on about this menu - but you really just need to check it out.


I was really feeling the Chinese menu just to see how it compared to the others in town. I definitely will be back to try the Kim Che and the Thai dishes. There's not a ton of options for those in Morgantown. But I went with the General Tso's Chicken and an order of sushi - the Boston roll. I took in the scenery as we waited. It's really a basic restaurant - a few decorations, but fairly basic.

The Boston roll was very light - with lettuce, cucumber, shrimp and a mayo sauce. It was refreshing and was a nice intro for my heavier entree. The ingredients were fresh and had a nice crisp to them. A light sushi roll was just enough to prep me.

Our entree came out with a gorgeous presentation. It was garnished with a large flower. I actually asked what it was made out of, and the waiter told me it was radish. It was so intricate. I wanted to keep it, but I knew it wouldn't last.

The General Tso's Chicken was a good blend of sweet and spicy that left a bit of a kick. The chili peppers it was cooked with were potent, so it was definitely flavorful. The chicken was of good quality - not those chewy, stringy pieces that other takeout places specialize in. The sauce was very tasty, and the white rice soaked in the flavor and complemented the chicken well.

I really liked this place, and I love that there are options to go further out of my comfort zone. I can't wait to try some of the other dishes to see what all this place has to offer.

Grade: A